Global News Post: Development

'Future Earth' Discusses Sustainable Development Challenges for Africa

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By
Anita Powell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Scientists
and lawmakers meeting in <st1:city w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:city> discuss ways
of promoting sustainable development in sub-Saharan <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>.  But as I learned first-hand, the challenges
are many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I
attempted to interview an expert ahead of the Future Earth conference about
ways of boosting sustainable development in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As
if to illustrate the point, though, the electricity in my <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Johannesburg</st1:place></st1:city> home went out as I was about to
make the late-night call - plunging my entire neighborhood into darkness and
knocking out my equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">When
we finally caught up the next day, Tanya Abrahamse said electrical power is one
of the challenges the panel is discussing as they meet this week in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:place></st1:city>. Abrahamse is
CEO of the South African National Biodiversity Institute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Energy
is a major issue, she says, given the rise of African megacities - like <st1:city w:st="on">Lagos</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>
- and the fact that not every nation has the same resources or needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Future
Earth is an international 10-year initiative that brings together scientists, academics
and policymakers to research sustainable solutions that will address the
challenges of development and environmental change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It
sounds complicated, and this week’s meeting is just one step in what will be a
long process, but Abrahamse says it boils down to some very basic needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“So
for example, we’ve identified water, and all the elements around water: water
management, water quality, water quantity, water analysis, understanding
groundwater, understanding water under the ground, understanding rainfall
patterns, water flow, degradation of waterways, use of water for energy, etcetera,
etcetera," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Water
is serious business in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> and can have
major effects on societies.  A drought
last year killed tens of thousands of people in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Somalia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other East African
nations.  Nine African nations have spent
more than a decade negotiating over rights to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nile</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>.  And <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>
experts have long warned of the potential of major conflict over water on the
continent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Abrahamse
stresses that this meeting in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cape
  Town</st1:place></st1:city> is only one step, and one that takes into account
complicated factors in the fields of social and natural science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But
the end goal is one that is easy to understand. 
It’s a higher quality of life for Africans, a future with sustainable
solutions on food, water, health - and yes, energy - for all. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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'Future Earth' Discusses Sustainable Development Challenges for Africa

By Anita Powell Scientists and lawmakers meeting in Cape Town discuss ways of promoting sustainable development in sub-Saharan A...

'BRICS' Nations Inch Toward Development Bank

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">By Kurt Achin from New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the leaders of<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">BRICS Summit, in New Delhi on March 29, 2012.</span></i></span><i> Photo © PIB</i><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Leaders from some of the world's largest developing economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the so-called BRICS -- called Thursday for a more representative international financial structure.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Wrapping up a summit Thursday in New Delhi, the five-nation bloc proposed the formation of a shared development bank. The "BRICS bank” would help shield the developing world from financial crises emanating from richer nations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"It will support our priority infrastructure projects as well as trade and investment opportunities with our BRICS partners," said South African President Jacob Zuma, explaining that African leaders welcome the proposal. "Such a bank has great potential to help us create good jobs in developing countries."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who hosted the summit, said the countries are moving closer to a key step in promoting mutual investment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"We have agreed to examine in greater detail a proposal to set up a BRICS-led South-South development bank funded and managed by the BRICS and other developing countries," he said.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div align="center" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Key Facts about BRICS:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; margin-left: -.25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 1.0pt; padding-bottom: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">         </span>BRICS is the world's five largest emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 1.0pt; mso-padding-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding-bottom: 1.0pt; padding-top: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">         </span>BRICS accounts for 42 percent of the global population.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 1.0pt; mso-padding-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding-bottom: 1.0pt; padding-top: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">         </span>BRICS accounted for 20 percent of global GDP in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: .5pt solid windowtext; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 1.0pt; mso-padding-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding-bottom: 1.0pt; padding-top: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">         </span>Intra-BRICS trade is $230 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 0in; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding-top: 1.0pt; padding: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">         </span>This is the fourth BRICS summit. The first was held in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A quarter of world trade<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">BRICS nations have nearly half the world's population and account for more than a quarter of world trade.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Export-import banks from the five nations signed a separate deal Thursday making it easier for the countries to trade with each other in their own local currencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the BRICS nations will play a key role in reforming global governance in coming years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"The world financial system is outdated and needs to be reformed," he said. "It does not take into account the significant role played by BRICS countries."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">BRICS leaders spoke in one voice on Syria Thursday, saying the crisis there should be resolved through “broad national dialogues” and with respect for the country's independence and sovereignty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">On Iran, the group said it recognizes Teheran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and warned “disastrous consequences” would result if the dispute about alleged nuclear weapons programs escalates into violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The one-day summit here in the Indian capital took place under extraordinary security, following the self-immolation protest of a Tibetan exile earlier in the week. The protester died of his burns Wednesday<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Indian police have taken dozens of Tibetan exiles into protective custody in the city, declared many areas off limits, and set up numerous checkpoints along roads near the summit venues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One small group of Tibetan exiles did manage briefly to unfurl a Tibetan flag Thursday near the hotel where Chinese President Hu Jintao is staying. They were arrested.<strong><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

'BRICS' Nations Inch Toward Development Bank

By Kurt Achin from New Delhi The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the leaders of BRICS Summit, in New Delhi on March 29, 2...

Social Sector Related Groups Highlight Need to Promote

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">The Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee holding the pre-Budget<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">consultations with Social Sector related Groups, in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">New Delhi</st1:city></st1:place> on<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">January 17, 2012. The Ministers of State for Finance,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Namo Narain Meena and S.S. Palanimanickam are also seen.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;"> Photo © PIB<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></st1:city></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">NEW DELHI</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> (PIB) --- </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Union Finance Minister  Pranab Mukherjee said that the country’s development strategy focuses on providing good health, education and development of skills of its citizens. He was addressing the representatives of about 30 Social Sector Groups who attended the today’s pre-Budget consultations here. While giving a brief account of the present state of the Indian economy, the Finance Minister said that the international crisis of 2008 resulted in lowering of GDP growth and had adverse effect on inflation. However, Indian economy recovered back after the stimulus package was injected by the Government. The basis of the initial projected growth for 2011-12 was also based on the upward trajectory of growth being followed by the Indian economy in previous years. However, the global economy was again hit by the Euro Zone crisis last year which in turn again resulted in lowering of the growth prospects of domestic economy. It was seen that a slow down on the revenue side and increasing expenditure is resulting in more than targeted fiscal deficit. We are making best efforts to keep it near the target. In order to tackle inflation, the Reserve Bank of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> had to adjust crucial rates of interest number of times. Thereafter the Finance Minister called for suggestions from various representatives of social sector groups. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Representatives of a large number of social sector related groups attended the today’s pre-Budget meeting and gave numerous suggestions largely focusing on the need to address issues of malnutrition, skill development, infrastructure, higher investment on health, education, sanitation, housing and renewable energy among others. They stressed the need for higher transparency and taxation benefits/relief to encourage development sector. Participants suggested that the process of consultation with the social sector groups should be ongoing and should take place on a more regular basis. They said that there was a need to encourage educated professionals to work in rural areas at the cutting edge by providing them suitable incentives and loan waivers. The need to raise the NREGS wages was also raised by a number of social sector group representatives and it was said that the national minimum wage should be rational enough to give the poor their dues. It was said that there was a need to develop and promote financial inclusion, inclusive growth and leadership among women and girls. It was stated that social audit should be made compulsory for all centrally sponsored schemes. The issue of implementation of sub-plans for scheduled castes and scheduled tribe was also raised and it was said that a dedicated sub-plan unit should be set-up in each Ministry. It was suggested that community based planning and the share of community in development benefits should increase. The need to augment infrastructure available at the Panchayat level was highlighted. It was suggested that community radios should be set-up for better interaction at the grass root level. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Beside the Finance Minister, both the Ministers of State for Finance,  S.S. Palanimanickam and  Namo Narain Meena, Chief Economic Advisor, Secretary (Financial Services), Secretary (Expenditure), Chairman, CBDT, Chairman, CBEC, Addl. Secretary Budget were present among others. The major representatives from the social sector related groups who attended the meeting were  Binju Abraham of PRADAN, Ms. Namrata Bali of SEWA Academy,  Swami Tyagarupananda of Ram Krishan Mission,  Sandeep Pandey of ASHA,  Mohamed Musa of Care India,  K. nath Reddy of Public Health Foundation,  Kalyan Sundram of DHAN, Dr. Ramesh Bellamkonda of BSS, Ms. Vinatha M. Reddy of GRAMEEN KOOTA,  Ashok Khosla of Development Alternatives Group,  Rajesh Tandon of PRIA,  D.R. Mehta of JAIPUR FOOT,  Amal Ganguli of HELP AGE, Dr. Rukmani Banerjee of PRATHAM, Ms. Achla Savysaachi of SA-DHAN, Ms. Rohini Nilekani of ARGHYAM,  Swami Agnivesh of Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM),  Ajay Mehta of Sewa Mandir, Ms. Mirai Chatterjee of SEWA Social Security,  Ashok Bharti of NACDOR,  Sanjay Jain of SANTEK,  Pradeep S. Mehta of CUTS,  Samit Aich of Greenpeace, Ms. Medha Patkar of Narmada Bachao Andolan and  L.V. Saptharishi of CNRI among others. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Among others who attended the meeting included  K.M. Acharya, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,  Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy,  Sudhir Kumar, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development,  L.C. Goyal, Addl. Secretary & DG (CGHS), Department of Health and Family Welfare, and  Ravi Mathur, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Labour among others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Social Sector Related Groups Highlight Need to Promote

Financial Inclusion and inclusive Growth during Pre-Budget Consultations with Union Finance Minister The Union Finance Minister, Pranab ...